This week we are going to expand on Great Sexpectations, and talk about Intimacy in Marriage. We want to keep our conversation focused on progressing forward in your relationships and not getting bogged down in guilt and shame. Guilt and shame are not of God but are used by the enemy to keep you from reaching your full Godly potential in your marriage. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin in order to lead us closer to God; not to bury us under the weight of our sin.

Everything God created, He did for a specific purpose and called it good. Tweet This!

God created sex! It is not dirty or taboo. It is not some forbidden act that God allows us to do, while He turns His back. It is also not intended for the exclusive use of reproduction. Reproduction can be a result of intimacy in marriage but it is not the sole purpose of it. God looked at all that He created and said that it was good. He created man and woman with the physical ability and desire to be sexual and still called it good. Sex is good! God said so and He cannot lie. Tweet This!

Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25

God did not intend for us to have shame in our marriage; when it comes to our sexuality and intimacy. He didn't create it that way, according to scripture. So, why does shame exist in our marriages? Sin is the reason that we have shame in our marriage. If you think about it, what would be the angle of satan concerning sexual relationships? Wouldn't he work against the purpose of God?

God's design for sex was for the benefit of a husband and wife; to create a bond of between them. He created our bodies to release chemicals in our brain during intimacy that strengthens and bonds us emotionally. Satan has been successful in undermining the design throughout time. All he needed to do was convince people that it was okay to give in to their lust and become vocal about how wonderful sex is outside of marriage. Today, Hollywood and the porn industry are the leaders of sexual promiscuity outside of marriage. Our children are being taught, through television and liberal school systems, that there is no God and it's okay to be sexually active outside of marriage. They are watching all kinds of sexual alternatives to God's plan played out in front of them and told that it is good.

As parents, our voices have been silenced.We also may have participated in premarital sex and adultery. We remain silent out of shame. There are still people who have not given into these temptations. However, those numbers are diminishing rapidly. We must break the silence and speak God's word about the grace and forgiveness found in Christ. We must talk about the destructive effects that sexual fornication, pornography, and adultery have on a person's life and their marriage. How marriages are destroyed and plagued with disease, unrest, violence, and unrealistic expectations because of it. We must find a way to communicate this truth to everyone. God's people can no longer be silent.

Imagine this. What if our children and grandchildren could preserve themselves for marriage because you were open and honest with them? What if they never exposed themselves to pornography because they understood how dangerous it was for them long term? What if we raise them with a full understanding that sexuality in marriage is holy and an act of worship, if kept within God's design? What would that marriage look like compared to our own?

You may be reading this and thinking that you've gone too far and can never experience true intimacy in your marriage. We are here to tell you that there is hope and healing in Christ and you can move beyond it. The Bible tells us that we are ALL sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus Christ came and died for our sins. He suffered for us so that we could live free from the bondage of sin. All we need to do it repent of our sins and accept His salvation.

Make the decision today. You can walk away from sexual sin and begin a new life in Christ. Some things won't be easy to let go of and can have lasting effects on our mind and body. However, you don't have to walk through it alone. We serve a God who will never leave or forsake us. You may find that you need to work through some issues in marital counseling. If you are committed to a life in Christ, He can redeem your life from your past.